Dragon sculpture by Pentax Da 70mm f2.4 limited

This is an image with that urban decay look. The colour is somewhat rich but reflecting the atmosphere when this image was taken.

Branches sunset by Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro

A golden sunset reflected on the braches with directional lighting. It kinds of make anyone a little drunk looking at it.

:)

Dairy Cow by Pentax Da* 200mm f2.8 SDM

This image was taken in fright. I did not expect these mild looking cows ramming against the fence like they are on LSD.

Can you see the smoke coming out of their nostrils?

Grasshopper by Voigtlander 125mm f2.5 macro APO LANTHAR SLII

This is the type of macro shot I love. Though not 1:1 ratio, the picture reveals the setting where the little bugger was captured. Sometimes it is not the closer, the better.

Voigtlander 125mm f2.5 is in deed quite heavy to hand hold. However, its low contrast and bokeh rendering are great for macro application. High contrast is not always a good thing with nature photography where shadows can be too dark for the overal image effect.

Spring Energy by Voigtlander 90mm f3.5 macro

I have been hearing a lot of people disliking voigtlander fast primes for one big reason: Bokeh tend to 'clump' together with dense crayon colour.

In fact, many of the criticism were pretty much personal reasons. Bokeh, though, employs pretty much subjective aesthetic criteria, there is a general consensus regarding a good pleasing bokeh.

Harsh edge and imperfect circle of specular highlights are the bigest no no.

This one did not fail the test too badly :)

Sincere prayer by Pentax Da 21mm f3.2 limited

This Da 21mm limited lens is handy for perspective close up work on people. Dramatic with good inclusion of background.

The criticism of soft corners are not really a problem when it comes to this application

Pentax Da* 55mm f1.4 Lens testing

This post is to refer to a very good testing of Da* 55mm f1.4 when it was first released. The page is maintained by a respected member of pentax on-line community, wieland, who has dedicated his time to a number of pentax limited lens series.

Testing of Da* 55mm f1.4 SDM by blend8

This testing is probably of the best one I have seen, objectively assessing various parametres of this lens.

Tian Mu by Voigtlander 125mm f2.5 Apo Lanthar SLII

Macro photography has been always my passion. And the motto used to be "closer and closer" when it comes to macro.

But these days, my philosophy has changed...

1. 1:1 macro is just too hard to do. It normally involves harming the insect in certain ways to make them stand still.

2. The look of macro photography to its cichlid texture lack a background to compliment the subject. It is usually a nicer thing to know its habitat.

3. Close up focus to 1:2 gives a bit of variation for a macro photographer to gauge the composition rule rather than finding a parallel 2D plane for any insect all the time.

This lens is best used with available light but I got lazy with a head on flash on the insect.

This is not a coach roach!

Marinara by pentax Fa 31mm f1.8 limited

The place is called Italia where it receives no hat rewards from The Age. However, the food is authentic and classic with a touch of home cooking feel. I love the atmosphere in the place and the food is superb!

Good food marks a good day's finish.

Thank God that I had Fa 31mm ltd as my Fa 43 and 55 kept on back focusing in the dim lighting. My manual focusing lenses are not finding a good focus plane for this dish for some reasons...

Church Facade by Pentax Da 15mm f4 limited

This gothic church is a rare find in my city. It is always under construction or repair. Finally I get to see this view without any distracting elements!

The perspective is quite great with wider angle lens :)